Race chiefs say sorry as runners go distance and then some

RED-FACED race chiefs have apologised to runners of the Edinburgh Half Marathon after admitting the route they designed was too long.

More than 3000 entrants trudged 300 extra metres on top of the lung-bursting 13.1-mile circuit they had completed due to a miscalculation of the course distance.

The gaffe was brought to light when around 30 runners cornered organisers after their sports watches showed they had run too far.

Despite the blunder, bosses at the ADT Edinburgh Half Marathon said athletes would still receive an accurate time for the race, while also apologising for a shortage of drinking water on one of the hottest days in the city this year.

Race director Mike James said the race enjoyed a record-breaking turnout but stressed that mistakes made would be rectified for next year's event.

"We had around 3100 people running on the day, about 50 more than ran the race last year, which was fantastic and there were a lot of happy faces," he said.

"At the end of the race various people wearing watches that record the distance you have run were saying it was too long.

"If there had been just one or two people you might think they had made a mistake, but when you have 20 or 30 people saying it you check it out and they were right.

"There was an error with the distance because of a miscalculation about the position of the turnaround point in relation to traffic management at Prestonpans.

"However, despite the race being slightly long, we can still calculate each runner's exact time for 13.1 miles so they will still get an accurate time in which they ran the race. They will get three times - the gun time, the chip time and the rectified time."

Mr James also admitted there may have been too little fluids available for the runners at the first water station on the course. He said: "We did have a few issues with water stations.

"We made a decision to cut the water we provide because of the amount of wastage we saw in previous years.

"We would see people getting a bottle taking one swig then throwing it away.

"The first water station didn't have enough water but at least it was early in the race rather than later on where people would be more dehydrated and would need it more. We apologise for that and will rectify that."

The race, which is now in its sixth year, began at Meadowbank before passing down Lochend Road to Leith Links, through Seafield to Portobello, along the seafront to Prestonpans before doubling back on itself and finishing at Musselburgh Racecourse.